The Japanese navy and the associated naval aviation service (Aviation Branch of the Japanese Navy) is one of the largest organizations of the Japanese armed forces. The units of the aviation service operate from the Japanese naval airfields and from the Japanese navy ships. Every pilot from the aviation service starts his career at Ozuki during the training. After the pilots have completed their elementary training at Ozuki Air Station, they continue in the specialized advanced pilot training. Some of the students will specifically train here to become a pilot on one of the transport aircraft or patrol aircraft. The other part of the students will be trained to fly with helicopters. The backbone of the Japanese maritime helicopter fleet is the Mitsubishi SH-60 Seahawk. From the beginning of the 1990s, this type entered service with the Japanese navy and since that time it is the backbone of the navy. The SH-60 Seahawk quickly turned out to be an excellent helicopter that can be used in many ways. One of the most characteristic patrol aircraft of the Japanese navy is the Lockheed P-3C Orion. This patrol aircraft plays an important role in the navy in protecting Japanese waters against intruders such as ships and submarines. The Orion has been the backbone of the patrol fleet for years and is quickly being replaced. The Kawasaki P-1 has meanwhile entered service within the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force as a replacement for the outdated P-3C Orion. On March 26, 2013, the JMSDF took delivery of the first two operational Kawasaki P-1 aircraft. The first unit to fly with the P-1 was Patron 3 at Atsugi Air Station. In Japan, the Kawasaki P-1 is currently being structurally introduced by the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force for the aviation branches. Despite attempts by the Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki Heavy Industries, no foreign customers are yet attached to the P-1. The first two units in Japan already fly with the type. The maritime airbase Iwakuni Air Station is home to the Japanese 31st Fleet Air Wing which is part of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. This unit flies with several versions of the P-3 Orion, the EH101 Merlin and uses the US-2 flying boat. There are also US aircraft from the US Navy and the Marines based on Iwakuni.
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